My Take on the Movies
A Movie Mini-Review of
THE GOSPEL
By: A. L. “Toni” Anderson

Let me begin by saying I am not a big fan of gospel music. And I absolutely loathe musicals. Having said that, I must also say that Rob Hardy’s The Gospel (2005) was everything I had hoped—and feared—it would be. The film stars Boris Kodjoe (of the TV series Soul Food) as David Taylor, the prodigal son returned, and Clifton Powell (who has played more evil villains than I care to list) as Fred Taylor, the seriously ill father who is the cause of the long-awaited return.

David is a popular secular artist at the top of his game when he receives that dreaded telephone call from Sister Ernestine (Aloma Wright of Deliver Us from Eva). He drops everything, including negotiations with songwriter Sandstone (comedian Nard Holston) and flies to his father’s side. Unfortunately, he arrives to find that there is some major dissension in his father’s church. The conflict is caused by the ego of David’s former childhood friend Frank (Idris Elba) and the hurt feelings of church administrator Terrance Hunter (Donnie McClurkin). The fire this time is fueled by David’s cousin, Frank’s former teenage crush and current wife, Charlene (Nona Gaye), who has serious issues of her own.

David’s manager always has his back, but never interferes in his decisions—from whether to compromise with the songwriter, to whether to pursue choir soloist Rain (Tamyra Gray of American Idol), to whether to return to the concert stage or stay and fight for his place in his father’s church. The role of the wise-cracking manager Wesley is played to the hilt by Omar Gooding (Cuba’s younger brother), but despite his many flip remarks, my favorite quote is by Bishop Taylor: “We should spend a little less time looking good, and a little more time being good.” A word to the wise.

The cast is rounded out by various gospel greats—Delores Winans, Yolanda Adams, Hezekiah Walker, Fred Hammond, and Martha Munizzi—all of whom add just that much more dimension to this invigorating film. Despite my initial misgivings, I found just the right mix of dialog and music to fill my bill, and the songs (several of which were written by the Kirk Franklin) were very appropriate to the movie’s theme.

A good movie should impart a message (although not necessarily a religious one); a great movie is one that makes the viewer think. I don’t know exactly what to call a movie that genuinely inspires, as this one does. The film brought tears to my eyes, and not necessarily in the places one might ordinarily expect.

Despite all of my initial misgivings, I would have to give this movie a high five! It met all of my expectations, and then climbed a bit higher.

[© 10/09/2005]